CRIMINAL JUSTICE (CJ)
CJ 130 - INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Prerequisite: None
An overview of the philosophical, historical, and operational aspects of the justice system in the United States.
Credit: 3
CJ 180 - INTRODUCTION TO HOMELAND SECURITY
Prerequisite: None
Students will study the components of federal, state, and local homeland security agencies and the relationships between these agencies and the private sector. Particular attention will be placed on policy, plans, and procedures for disaster preparation, mitigation, and response in the government as well as private sector. HSEC/CJ credit.
Credit: 3
CJ 200 - CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
Prerequisite: CJ 130
Provides the student with an opportunity to study the technical, theoretical and legal aspects of criminal investigation.
Credit: 3
CJ 227 - CORRECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
Prerequisite: CJ 130 or concurrent
This course is an overview of the process and institutions involved in the supervision, treatment, control, and incarceration of those individuals who have been adjudicated and sentenced by the court. Corrections in the United States encompass a variety of public and private institutions including: probation and parole systems, jails, prisons, half-way houses and post-release supervision.
Credit: 3
CJ 235 - COURTS AND JUSTICE
Prerequisite: CJ 130
Affords the student a concentrated study of the functions, operations and decision-making process of the American court system.
Credit: 3
CJ 242 - CRIMINOLOGY
Prerequisite: None
This course surveys, and critically appraises, various theories of crime causation, including an examination of classical, biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives on the etiology of crime. CJ/SOC credit.
Credit: 3
CJ 244 - JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
Prerequisite: CJ 130 or SOC 111
A course planned to aid the student in the examination of juvenile delinquency as a social problem from the perspectives of control prevention and rehabilitation. Delinquency will be viewed as to definition, genesis and extent. The social institutions of families and schools will be discussed in detail. The juvenile courts, probation, parole, correction institutions and child placement programs are to be examined with respect to their effectiveness, philosophy and goals. CJ/SOC credit.
Credit: 3
CJ 250 - ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Prerequisite: CJ 130
This course will analyze ethical behavior and provide criminal justice practitioners with decision-making skills to enhance the practitioner duty performance and the public interest. The focus will be on making moral, rational, and responsible decisions which will lead to ethical professional behavior. Must be taken at AU.
Credit: 3
CJ 266 - THE CONSTITUTION & CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Prerequisite: None
Examination of the area of law balances governmental power and individual rights. Issues that address balancing controlling crime with due process rights include search and seizure, detention and arrest, interrogation, trial rights and sentences.
Credit: 3
CJ 270 - POLICING IN THE UNITED STATES
Prerequisite: CJ 130 or concurrent
Study of the role behavior and life of the line officer within the police subculture and within society. Topics examined are the influence of coercive power, role behavior, subcultural influences, and personal issues relating to loyalty, stress, health, critical incidents, family, and faith.
Credit: 3
CJ 275 - GANGS AND CULTS
Prerequisite: CJ 130 or SOC 111
See SOC 275 for course description.
Credit: 3
CJ 295 - RESEARCH METHODS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Prerequisite: CJ 130 & CJ 242 (or concurrent)
This course provides an introduction to research methods in criminal justice and other social sciences. Course topics include: conceptual issues in research, models of empirical research, research approaches, and research results analysis. As part of this course, students will produce a research project proposal.
Credit: 3
CJ 307 - VICTIMOLOGY
Prerequisite: CJ 130 or SOC 111
Victimology is the study of the role of the victim in criminology and the criminal justice system. Areas to be investigated include the relationship between victims and their criminal offenders, societies' responses to the victims, the victim's role in the criminal justice process and programs directed at assisting victims of crime. CJ/SOC credit.
Credit: 3
CJ 331 - TOPICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Prerequisite: CJ 130
A seminar open to criminal justice majors/minors which will provide an opportunity to explore, in-depth, topics pertinent to or impacting on the field of criminal justice. This may include critical observations or historical, contemporary or future issues. Repeatable to a maximum of 9 hours.
Credit: 3
CJ 332 - TERRORISM
Prerequisite: CJ 130
This course will look at what terrorism is and what a terrorist group is. This course will also examine theories explaining terrorist behavior and how economics, race, religion and other factors influence terrorism and motivate terrorist groups. The course will also look at the responses to terrorism, and particularly how it is being fought through the concept of Homeland Security. HSEC/CJ Credit.
Credit: 3
CJ 344 - YOUTH & THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
Prerequisite: CJ 244
This course provides an in-depth examination of the juvenile justice system including the history and development of the juvenile court system, an examination of the impact of race, gender, and socio-economic status with regards to the determination and treatment of juvenile delinquency. The course will also examine the issues of children’s rights, social services, foster care, high risk offenders, treatment programs, and alternative schools.
Credit: 3
CJ 362 - CRIMINAL LAW
Prerequisite: CJ 266
This course is an examination of the criminal law and certain crimes. This course will look at the definition and comparison of criminal law with other areas of law, the purposes of punishment, and the history and development of criminal law in western society. There will be an examination of the elements of a crime, and students will gain knowledge of particular crimes. Students will examine both criminal statutes and interpreting case law.
Credit: 3
CJ 365 - CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION
Prerequisite: CJ 227
This course provides the student with the context of corrections history and with the goals and philosophies of the correctional system. The student will examine correctional administration and management using contemporary theory, research, and best practices. The student will also examine issues such as offender classifications, rehabilitative and restorative initiatives, treatment programs, life-course and educational services, various institutional environments and levels, and the functions and management of correctional staff.
Credit: 3
CJ 390 - DATA ANALYSIS & REPORTING
Prerequisite: CJ 295
This course introduces students to basic data analytic techniques primarily using SPSS, including variable construction, descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, mean comparisons, and regression. Students will also learn how to effectively report and present statistical information.
Credit: 3
CJ 395 - ADVANCED RESEARCH IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Prerequisite: CJ 242 & CJ 295
This course is a continuation of CJ 295. This course will further a student’s knowledge and experiences in the area of criminal justice research. The goal of this course is to equip students with the tools necessary to design and conduct a full and unique criminal justice research study. The student will work closely with a faculty member to design, conduct, analyze, and report the results of a semester-long project. Practical and ethical considerations of actually conducting a research project will be emphasized.
Credit: 3
CJ 403 - FIELD EXPERIENCE/INSTRUCTION-CJ
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Provides an opportunity for CJ majors to observe and experience the criminal justice system in action. The student selects from a variety of agencies or organizations willing to offer this opportunity and, with the help and guidance of the field coordinator, participates in an experience designed to bring academic preparation together with the reality of being professional criminal justice practitioners. Experience may be taken for up to a total of 12 hours.
Credit: 1-12
CJ 415 - ADVANCED CRIMINOLOGY AND PROFILING
Prerequisite: CJ/SOC 242
Advanced Criminology and Profiling is a case study approach to applying theory to the practice of criminology. The case histories of some infamous and not-so-infamous criminals will be examined for the purpose of applying criminological theory. Students will determine the probable cause(s) of those individuals' criminality. CJ/SOC credit.
Credit: 3
CJ 425 - LEGAL USE OF EVIDENCE
Prerequisite: CJ 266
This course will provide the student with an overview of the Federal rules of evidence applicable in investigatory and testimonial situations. The student will explore, through applied and experiential learning, practical knowledge of issues encountered in criminal investigations with a view toward evidentiary sufficiency and admissibility in criminal cases.
Credit: 3
CJ 432 - EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Prerequisite: CJ 130 or HSEC 180
This course will introduce students to homeland security and emergency management protocols, natural disaster management, and the network of government, business, and non-profit resources. The course will also discuss policies and processes involved in emergency management. HSEC/CJ Credit.
Credit: 3
CJ 440 - CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY
Prerequisite: CJ 130, CJ 242
This course will provide students with the skills necessary to analyze, evaluate, and critique criminal justice policies found at the local, state, and federal levels of the criminal justice system. The course will focus on a practical approach to the creation, implementation, and evaluation of policy actions. The course will focus on current policies and their impact on both the internal dynamics of the system and the impact of policies on the public. Particular light will be shown on the use of force, sentencing guidelines, and the use of the death penalty.
Credit: 3
CJ 465 - RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
Prerequisite: CJ 130, 227
In this course, the student will explore restorative justice as a new model within the criminal justice system. The student will develop a critical mindfulness to the healing wants and needs of victims and communities impacted by criminal conduct as well as the role of the offender in meeting these wants and needs. The course will examine various applications of the restorative justice model in criminal justice systems around the world.
Credit: 3
CJ 499 - DIRECTED RESEARCH
Prerequisite: CJ 295 & Permission
This course is a continuation of CJ 295. This course will further a student’s knowledge and experiences in the area of criminal justice research. In addition to critically evaluating current literature, students will be required to design, conduct, analyze, and report the results of a semester-long project. Practical and ethical considerations of actually conducting a research project will be emphasized.
Credit: 1-3
CJ 510 - CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Prerequisite: None
Students will explore the legal issues within the criminal justice system, focusing on the various component parts which include constitutional law, criminal procedure, judicial policy making, law as social control, civil liability, and controversial issues in the criminal justice system.
Credit: 3
CJ 520 - SEMINAR IN CRIMINOLOGY
Prerequisite: None
In-depth examination of major theoretical perspectives of crime and deviance. Students will examine the evolution and empirical status of traditional to contemporary theories of criminal behavior, with a focus on the historical context of each theory. In addition, students will analyze the impact of theory on prevailing crime control policies in different historical eras as well as potential impacts on future criminality.
Credit: 3
CJ 530 - CRITICAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSICE
Prerequisite: None
Students will explore classical and recent literature in criminal justice focused on various critical issues confronting the criminal justice system. Students will study the trends, contemporary topics, and reform movements currently prominent in the fields of policing, courts and corrections.
Credit: 3
CJ 540 - ETHICS AND JUSTICE
Prerequisite: None
This course examines the ethical issues relevant to the administration of criminal justice. The origins of ethical standards, the effect of these standards on the administration of justice, and issues of ethical leadership will be addressed. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of ethics into criminal justice policy making and the establishment of defined values as a means of agency direction and activity.
Credit: 3
CJ 560 - CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY
Prerequisite: CJ 510, 520, 530, 540
In this course, students will explore the principles and techniques of policy design and evaluation, including model designs, planning, and implementation as it relates to the social issues, community-oriented standards and norms, and community services for offenders as well services for victims of crime. Students will become familiar with the ethical considerations for policy design and evaluation and will ultimately craft a program capstone policy evaluation paper.
Credit: 3